At LEAP, nearly 300 Mount Holyoke students present about their internships and research experiences. You will hear from future policy makers, activists, entrepeneurs, data scientists, teachers, researchers, and market analysts. Most will tell stories of unmitigated success and transformative learning. Others will share details of unexpected challenges they faced, and how they were required to shift and adapt in response. Students worked in 42 countries in every imaginable field. They will discuss important issues of social justice, relate how they met challenges of communication and expression in new contexts, and talk about how to find and succeed in summer internships.

LEAP is designed to give students who aspire to undertake internships and summer research the opportunity to learn from their peers. It is also for the whole Mount Holyoke community where family, friends, faculty, staff and our alumnae come together to celebrate the work and contributions of the presenters.

We are hugely impressed by students in College 211 and inspired by their individual success and collective learning. Their work in bringing the LEAP Symposium to fruition was exceptional. We thank the faculty, staff, alumnae, donors, and internship and research providers whose contributions have make this event possible.

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This panel will explore the multiple layers of the literary world, highlighting the importance of creating place through social engagement and individual reflection.Two panelists interacted directly with the community by promoting accessibility to previously-published works as well as fostering a love of literature. The other panelists worked within the pre-publication process, from drafting to assisting agents in preparing client manuscripts for publication. Molly found her place in nonprofit development work and gained experience in fundraising and grant research in New York City. Katie promoted dialogue across communities in her hometown through a reading campaign which encouraged residents to read the same book in tandem. Trisha gained a sense of confidence regarding her future plans as she learned about the publication process from start to finish. Carlin found the value in writing on location, as well as using research and interviews to communicate her work’s setting.

Seven Months to Launch: One Senior’s Career and Community Epiphany, English Major

What happens when a red Pegasus takes on an internship at her hometown library? She gets a chance to be a changemaker in a way that’s close to home in more ways than one. For Katie, an unexpected summer internship turned into a passion project and eventually crystallized in her... Read More →

Agent, Editor, Author: Planning for a Future in Publishing, Five College Film Studies Major

Ever wonder what happens to a book before it lands on an editor’s desk? Trisha spent her summer immersed in the New York City publishing scene through her work at InkWell Management, a literary agency with a client base ranging from Anthony Bourdain to Markus Zusak. This presentation... Read More →

Increasing Accessibility and Incentivizing Engagement: Community-Building in a City of Nine Million, History Major

Molly Libbey spent her summer interning at House of SpeakEasy, an organization dedicated to increasing accessibility to literary works and fostering students’ love of literature. Working in the field of development, Molly gained valuable skills including grant research and writing... Read More →

Farm Wisdom: How Going Back Helped Move a Novel Forward, English and Religion Major

Sometimes life doesn’t lead to an internship. Carlin spent her summer working on the first draft and a revision of a novel in verse. Using habits and skills learned from poetry courses and a course on children’s literature at Mount Holyoke, Carlin wrote narrative poetry, telling... Read More →